At the southern end of Taylor Ridge, at the lower (western end) of a westward sloping terrain comprising a sequence of glacial retreat surfaces of differing age; a lower level moraine surface
Altitude:
1100 m
Aspect:
W
Slope:
10 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
85° 51' S 153° 08' W
85° 51' S 153° 18' W
Latitude Longitude DD
-85.850 -153.133
-85.850 -153.300
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.008 0.008
0.008 0.008
Locality
Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains, on the West side of the Robert Scott Glacier, about 40km from the coast
Survey
Mount Goodale
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Coastal Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-25
°C
Frozen ground depth:
35 > cm
Frozen type:
Dry frozen
Frozen comment:
>35cm
Geology
Geological setting:
The local rocks are medium to fine grained granite but the till contains some dolerite indicating a more distant source; at this site younger till appears to overlie more weathered material and indicates that there have been successive stages of glacial advance and retreat
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
Small boulders and pebbles with minor surface staining and a generally fresh appearance
Soil
Soil parent material:
Dominantly granitic till with some dolerite over more oxidised silty till
No water observed but soils are moist in patches after recent snowfall
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
277a
-3
–
0
cm
surface pebbles, granules and sand; subangular to subrounded with weak but distinct surface staining;
277b
0
–
5
cm
light brownish grey (2.5Y 6/2) sandy gravel with few small boulders; loose; rock particles subangular to subrounded and non to weakly stained; distinct boundary;
277c
13
–
20
cm
light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) bouldery sandy silty sand; moderately cohesive to firm; salts aggregated round some clasts; some clasts crumbly and partly disaggregated; larger clasts moderately stained